Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Tree Tunnels

The above picture is the famous tree tunnel to Koloa (Kauai). Two interesting things about the Koloa Eucalyptus trees: 1) they are 150 years old and 2) they have been repeatedly shredded clean by hurricanes. The canopy grows back; trees are modular organisms.

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Thank you for these beautiful images. Today I was reading that the Jewish New Year of Trees holiday happened just recently. The following from Elaine Solowey, an Israeli orchardist and the director of sustainable agriculture for the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies.

Moreover, the ecological benefits of trees are profound: They make food and oxygen, and manufacture topsoil by breaking up rocks in the subsoil and releasing minerals later stored in fruit, seeds and leaves. Their roots stabilize the soil and protect it - creating microorganisms and insect homes. Trees stop erosion, store water and are magnets for rain. A mature deciduous tree may give off 500 liters of water from its approximately six acres of surface area on a warm summer day. The cool air under the trees, drawn upward as rain clouds glide over, often leads to rain. The trees then absorb water through their leaves, and the raindrops settle among their roots.

With all the benefits of arboreal agriculture, why then are plowed crops the most prevalent form of cultivation? Perhaps modern agriculture has narrowed its sights to things that can be bred quickly and provide produce quickly - things that can be done in an instant. Agriculture is focused on quick annual crops.

On this Tu Bishvat, we should remember trees’ environmental benefits in mitigating and stabilizing the climate: The air and the earth are several degrees cooler under a tree in hot climates and several degrees warmer in a cold one. In addition to acting as the world’s lungs, trees are the earth’s air conditioners. Deforestation, something of a throwaway line when global climate change is discussed, is most likely one of its main causes. Public debate over climate change must address alternative cultivation methods and embrace arboreal agriculture as a key solution.

I think often about the myriad of things trees do for us besides being props and backdrops for landscaping. We could be cultivating our survival.

I wonder if the transplants in charge have the eucs cut down because they hate trees or just hate that we enjoyed them for so many years before they arrived. Just about everything the government gets involved in they screw up. Pretty soon they will have cut down every eucalyptus and give us something definitely not Leucadia for replacements.

According to statistics provided by the city's negotiator, firefighters are paid an average of $105,600 to $141,700, depending on their ranks. Those salaries included overtime pay.

Not bad considering the benefits and most of the time their working out, sleeping, shining a brass fire hydrant, watching movies or taking kids on tours of their spiffy stations. NOT Including their HUGE Pensions and health care where they retire at full pay at 55 with health care for life.

GASB Exposes True Staff CostsGASB Exposes True Staff CostsCJ The Great GASB: A new provision discloses how much we really spend on public-sector employees.

...Confronting the reality of unfunded pension and benefit obligations is deepening the crisis of confidence already shaking municipal finances. Last week, the chairman of the budget and finance committee of Stockton, California’s city council said that the city should consider filing for bankruptcy protection in the face of an $18.5 million budget deficit. Two smaller towns north of San Francisco, Isleton and Rio Vista, also appear on the brink of bankruptcy.

The culprit, of course, isn’t GASB 45 itself but the ugly reality that it exposes. There are 22.5 million public-sector employees in the United States. The average state and local government employee now makes 46 percent more in combined salary and benefits than his private-sector counterpart does, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute—including 128 percent more on health care and 162 percent more on retirement benefits. Four out of five public-sector workers have lifetime pensions. Paying for such lavish treatment is difficult; in 2007, Credit Suisse estimated that state and local governments owed more than $1.5 trillion in unfunded health-care and non-pension benefits. Further, the market meltdown has erased $1 trillion from municipal pension funds, according to Boston College’s Center for Retirement Research.

02/25/09 , by eta , Budget, Pension, 1 comment » 1 commentComment from: Marc Garman [Visitor] · http://ibvallejo.com Greetings from the bankrupt city of Vallejo CA. As the canary in the coal mine we are living proof of the veracity of the points raised in your article. For more on the Vallejo situation drop by www.ibvallejo.com

There is no reason for not planning and planting the right trees (hopefully eucalyptus) along 1o1 to achieve something like what we used to have or close to the Kauai canopy. What a wonderful legacy to leave to those who come after us.

Moreover, Kreisler said, firefighters make six-figure salaries when overtime is included. Including overtime, an Escondido fire captain earns between $112,700 and $162,000; a fire engineer $94,470 to $140,500; and a firefighter/paramedic between $67,100 and $145,900. “I don't think there is a soul in this room that begrudges the pay to the firefighters,” Kreisler said. “But we are spending 67 percent of our general fund on public

Plus add on the life long full pay for your highest paying year pension and full healthcare costs forever!

No offense to anyone, but do you really think the Firestations and Firefighters are what is draining the economy in Encinitas? If Glenn would get even half of his decisions correct, the City would to be subjected to so many lawsuits brought on by angry citizens. And if developers did not build lofts etc. that wont sell, more money can be saved. That might save us the few million. Another poster posted how much Glenn really mkes. It wasn't totally off base. I did five year study on what we paid him and how many cases he lost. It was pretty staggering, and not in his favor. At that time, I suggested to Jim Bond that we might want to seek services elsewhere. He didn't deem it necessary to even look elsewhere for another company or person. So I guess we will have to agree to disagree about the Fire Dept. They seem to be an easy scapegoat, and I am not too sure that they are the "bad guys".

As a post wrote, go check the city budget. The largest Expense by far is the Fire Department Budget. As shown and is fact, 90% of the fire department expenditures are employee salary, benefits and pension costs..... Learn more... the truth will set you free.

YES, the truth will set you free. I have looked at the City budget. So I will continue to support firefighters. The sheriff and fire department cannot share responsibilites. When a person puts there life on the line I think they deserve higher pay. Phil Cotton makes more money than any firefighter out there. Glenn makes a lot more than several of them put together.

Firefighters don't just cover Encinitas. They helped out in the huge wildfires we had all over the County a while back. You don't like what firefighters get paid, then do something about it and stop complaining. Pesonally, I think they are worth every dime, and would rather see a few City managers go instead.

While we may disagree on whether firefighters are over paid - there are plenty of other places to cut.

I have spent hours telling the elected 5 and candidates we need to cut costs with no positive results. I have explained how it makes sense to adjust Planning staffing levels due to the lack of building. I'm tired now. I don't have the energy to fight a brick wall.

I agree with Dr. Lorri. Firefighters are not the problem. Their salaries range from 63800 to 79000 a year here in Encinitas. This is comparable to firefighters' salaries in similar towns

A real problem is the number of lawsuits in which the city is involved. The Hall property stands out as one very expensive mess that should have been developed into a community park years ago.

Another, and perhaps more serious problem, is the failure to recognize that we are in a recession. Businesses, including Expo, Ace, etc. , are closing. Property owners are getting reassessments on their homes and businesses, and revenues will drop. Yet, no planning is being done for the loss of tax revenue.

It used to be our taxes were very low here in California and we had the best schools, the best roads, the least crime, this was because good smart people ran the government in Sacramento and at the local levels. Why are we all so broke now except stupid corrupt people have gotten in place at the elected, appointed and hired levels. There is no way good smart people would let the sixth largest economy in the world get to the point of default. I have two answers, corrupt democrats and republicans. There is no reason firefighters that made twenty to thirty thousand dollars in the early 70's should be making 120 thousand dollars for life while retiring at 55. This also applies to the bloated city staff. The mess in San Diego is the tip of the iceberg. With the rate we are going every tax dollar will go to employee salary, health care and retirement. There will be no money for infrastructure maintenance, new parks, upgrades, etc. Whats the answer, higher and higher taxes or bankruptcy, unless someone who will be very unpopular comes in and cuts the waste starting with employee salaries and unneeded positions. Bud Lewis is trying to achieve this and he taking heat for it.When City Councils agree to demands from employee unions for such lavish salaries and pensions they have carry this sin on their backs for life. I would never want this legacy on myself or someone close. They are corrupt.Pay the cops and paramedics whatever they want, just get good ones. Pay the firefighters what they are worth considering they mostly watch TV and movies, surf the Internet, work out on exercise equipment, jog around town, go to the store and bank, sleep eight hours a night or more, don't maintain fire hydrants anymore, all this on our tax dollars. And most of their calls only require a paramedic but they haven't got much to do so they go along to justify their position.

It's a fair question to ask about the generous compensation package of the firemen. The early retirement age and high pension benefits make it a necessary question in the present economic crisis. Why should the firemen be excluded?

Public employee compensation has become so lopsided in comparison to private compensation that the system has become unsustainable. When firemen are able to take second jobs on their days off, something is very wrong.

Building extravagant, costly new fire stations only adds to the public perception of a very privileged group. Yes, firemen have become the symbol of wasteful public spending. It is time to have an open public discussion about this.

So decree it, oh wise one. You seem to be such an expert. You begin. What are they compensated? How many men and women does Encinitas have on the force? Who is the Fire Chief? How much does he make?. The Fire Marshall etc.? Let me know exactly how much these, yet to be built fire station, are exactly going to cost? Demonstrate this knowledge and you will win my respect, not that you need it. I know the answers, do you?

Who is the Fire Chief and how much does he make? Answer: Mark Muir is the Fire Chief, and it is public information what he makes. He can also retire anytime he wants, so you had better start with the next Fire Chief as far as a salary reduction.

Why do firefighters get paid approximately 70 to 80 dollars a hour to sleep 8 to 9 hours a night. Who else shows up for two days a week and gets five off. I don't get paid to sleep, why do they?Every time a firefighter retires his salary does not go away, we are paying for it for life.In the course of time you may have 30 men and women on the force but are paying out for 50 or 60 when including those retired. Remember they don't pay into their retirement, we pay it out of future taxes.

Why do you hate firefighters so much? You had the same opportunties to work for the fire, police or city? Why didn't you if it is such a sweet deal? Why didn't you join the military and get one of those retirements? If these jobs are all so cush, you should have gotten one. They are always hiring. Seems to me that you must really be angry with you self, for being lazy and not doing something for your community or country.....

OK, so now we're talking City salaries. They do seem to be very high. There is an opening for an "engineering" specialist, which does not require a college degree and is more of a glorified admin position. The salary of $45,000/yr is the about the same for an entry level civil engineer (college degree)at most SD area consulting firms. And as we know, benefits on the private side pale in comparison with the generous City benefits and pensions. There used to be a trade-off of lower salary/better benefits to work at a government agency, but no more. The City will no doubt get 100's of applicants for this position.

I am not running for anything, so I think I will let annoymous find out for him or herself the answers posed. That way it will really sink in. I already know the answers. I also know that I "trashed" City Hall in my Community Frum piece in last weeks North County Times. Now, what did you say that you did to help us out of this mess, except complain, anonymous inquisitor?

The post about firefighter making 30 to 40k a year in the 70s' is dead on.

Its not like they are rocket scientists or surgeons. Their pay and pensions are outrageous. It’s a cause of politicians like Jerome (a supposed republican) being paid off by the unions. He is a joke like the fire fighters pension. Actually they are both a public crime.

You might be right on term limits, but your inability to see a City problem is a joke.

There is no hate here, just the government employees ripping us off so bad. How about a honest days pay for a honest days work. What they have is welfare with dignity. This happens at all levels of government, federal, state, county and city. Almost all are lazy incompetent employees not worthy of being called workers as that would be disparaging on those that do work for a living.

I was the first woman ever hired by Squibb Pharmaceuticals, in 1978, because the government was on them to hire women. I won best salesperson in the country, my first year. Now, remember it was all men, except me. We each had about 300 accounts. I was in my late 20's at the time. When the men could just not account for how a woman could win, they said "She must be "boning-to use the parlence of our times" all of the doctors she is calling on. All 300! WOW What an accomplishment. Now some 40 years later, I guess am still "boning" men, in this case firefighters. I will certainly let my husband of 20 years know this fact. Now , how many of these guys am I actually screwing? And, are there any women? I wouldn't want to be called discriminatory. Sorry, J.P., but this is pretty funny, and also quite flattering. Thanks anonymous.

I am glad you’re amused. I am as well. I am thrilled by your lack of common sense. Its funny how some people can skate by in life with no common sense. Logic. No thanks. Not needed. I’ll just get a Phd in psychology and then just rambling about things that makes no common sense what so ever. Cheer Dr. Lorri. Keep bringing on your cluelessness. It’s priceless!

Your welcome Dr. Lorri-

I am glad you’re amused. I am as well. I am thrilled by your lack of common sense. Its funny how some people can skate by in life with no common sense. Logic. No thanks. Not needed. I’ll just get a Phd in psychology and then just rambling about things that makes no common sense what so ever. Cheer Dr. Lorri. You made it!!!

Firemen deserve $150 a year plus at 55 they get to retire at $150k a year forever with free health care. Yeah that makes sense.America. Anti-Darwinism. Let retards rule the world……

Anon: 7:04:-There is a certain line that you do not cross with Lorri. So let me say this once, and once only. J.P. should have stopped this, but he didn't. Now, it is my turn. I already know who you are. A few friends in the rght places, and voila, you are I.D'd. I'm sure you already knew this, being the bright person that you. So here is the deal. I want an apology to Dr. Lorri and I want it within 24 hours posted on the most current topic on the blog at that time. If you do not do this, there are a few people that you won't like that will help you do it. Your 24 hours starts at midnight tonight. CIAO jerkoff.

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About Leucadia

Leucadia is a funky little beach community located in North San Diego county in southern California. Leucadia is the north section of the city of Encinitas.

English spiritualists settled the small coastal community of Leucadia in 1870, and are reputed to have danced, in diaphanous white robes in the little Roadside Park (Leucadia Blvd and Hwy 101).

The spiritualists are the reason so many of the streets are named after Greek gods and goddesses. Leucadia is Greek for "a sheltered place." Heritage Eucalyptus trees, planted in the 1880s, still grace the highway. When President Roosevelt passed through Leucadia in an open car during the Depression, local children climbed the Eucalyptus trees to wave to him.

Change happens slowly in this nostalgic little California beach town. In lieu of fast food restaurants and franchise chain stores, Leucadia has two miles of Mom 'n Pop businesses, and that's the way everyone likes it. The town war cry is "Keep Leucadia Funky."

Leucadia played an active role in the rebirth of the classic Highway 101 shield, restored in 1997, and was part of the successful 101 Campaign to have Highway 101 declared an historic route.

Leucadia is experiencing growing pains and culture clash in these first decades of the 21st century...

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